Wet basement, or worse? Here's some advice...

Monday

Jun 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMJun 30, 2008 at 2:33 PM

If your house has been damaged by all the recent rain, the National Center for Healthy Housing has some tips for you.

"Removing standing water and water damaged materials within the first 48 hours is critical for preventing mold growth," said Rebecca Morley, executive director of NCHH, based in Columbia, Md. The nonprofit group's mission is to develop and promote practical methods to protect children from residential environmental hazards while preserving the supply of affordable housing.

Tips in the guide were tested on four homes in New Orleans following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In a home that experienced at least five feet of standing water for at least two weeks and had mold growth up to the ceiling, the protocol reduced the mold to non-detectable levels.

Go online to see the full report. Here are some of the tips:

-- Remove standing water and dry out the building as soon as you can. Open doors and windows. Mop up or pump out any standing water.

-- Use a mild detergent and water to clean and remove mold from hard surfaces.

-- Use fans and dehumidifiers to remove moisture after cleaning. Be careful not to blow mold around while drying. Point fans to blow outside.

-- If there is more than 10 square feet (about 3 ft. X 3 ft.) of mold in your house, consider using a professional mold clean-up contractor. Do not hire a contractor who recommends fogging or spraying as a way to clean up mold. Moldy materials must be removed from the building.

-- Wipe dry or allow all surfaces to fully air-dry before doing any more work. Make sure that the home is allowed to completely dry before beginning restoration.

-- Additionally, to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, residents are reminded not to operate generators within buildings. In the case of power outages, generators should only be operated outside of an enclosed space.

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